Exhibit 4.3
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 3, 1998
by and between
Renco Steel Holdings, Inc.
and
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of February 3, 1998, by and between Renco Steel Holdings, Inc.,
an Ohio corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation (the "INITIAL PURCHASER"), who has agreed to purchase the
Company's 10 7/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2005, Series A (the "SERIES A SENIOR
NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
January 29, 1998 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and between the Company and the
Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase the
Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set
forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser under the Purchase
Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
BUSINESS DAY: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the
City of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the Trustee,
on which banks are authorized to close.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
BROKER-DEALER TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Series B Notes that are
acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued
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in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Registration Statement
continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period
not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and
(c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Series B
Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount
of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
DAMAGES PAYMENT DATE: With respect to the Series A Notes, each
Interest Payment Date.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The registration by the Company under the Act of the
Series B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities for Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in
such exchange offer by such Holders.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchaser
proposes to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and outside the United States
in compliance with Regulation S under the Act.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
INDEMNIFIED HOLDER: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated the Closing Date, by and between the
Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"),
pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
INTEREST PAYMENT DATE: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
NOTES: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
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PERSON: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust,
unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at
the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
RECORD HOLDER: With respect to any Damages Payment Date, each Person
who is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment
Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company
relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or
(b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) which is filed pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included
therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective
amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
RESTRICTED BROKER-DEALER: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 10 7/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2005,
Series B to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or
(ii) upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement, in exchange for such Series A Notes.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Note, until the earliest to
occur of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Note
has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the
date on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan
of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on
which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
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UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION or UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by
applicable federal law, the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the
Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later
than 45 days after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
(ii) use reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than
120 days after the Closing Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A)
file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
as may be necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to
permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall
keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period
required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the
Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less
than 20 Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply in
all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No
securities other than the Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event
later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
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(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Notes that
are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of
such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Series A Notes (other than Transfer Restricted
Securities acquired directly from the Company or any affiliate of the Company)
pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial
sale of each Series B Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer,
which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such
Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other
information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order
to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such
Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a
change in policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration
Statement conforms in all material respects with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the date on which the
Exchange Offer is Consummated.
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly upon
request, and in no event later than one Business Day after such request, at any
time during such 180-day period in order to facilitate such sales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. If (i) the Company is not required to
file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Series B Notes
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or (ii) if any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20
Business Days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such
Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the
Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series B
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Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a
prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C)
such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from
the Company or one of its affiliates, then the Company shall (x) cause to be
filed on or prior to 30 days after the date on which the Company determines that
it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
clause (i) above or 30 days after the date on which the Company receives the
notice specified in clause (ii) above a shelf registration statement pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (in either event, the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")),
relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have
provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and shall (y)
use reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become
effective on or prior to 90 days after the date on which the Company becomes
obligated to file such Shelf Registration Statement. If, after the Company has
filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement which satisfies the requirements
of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required to file and make effective a
Shelf Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer shall not be
permitted under applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x)
above. Such an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y)
above. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented
and amended as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and
(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of
Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of
this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms in all material respects with
the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at
least three years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date
on which such Shelf Registration Statement first becomes effective under the Act
or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto or are, in the written opinion of counsel to the Company, eligible for
sale under Rule 144(k) under the Act.
(b) PROVISION BY HOLDERS OF CERTAIN INFORMATION IN CONNECTION
WITH THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder
furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information specified in Item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Act
for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus included therein or Prospectus supplement. No Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant
to Section
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5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts to
provide all such information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration
Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in
this Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such
effectiveness in this Agreement, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company hereby agrees to pay liquidated
damages to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the
first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration
Default, in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion
thereof that the Registration Default continues. The amount of the liquidated
damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day
period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount
of liquidated damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated
damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the beneficial holders
of interests in the Global Security (as defined in the Indenture) by wire
transfer of immediately available funds and to Holders of Securities (as defined
in the Indenture) in certificated
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form by mailing checks to their registered addresses on each Damages Payment
Date. All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that
are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time
such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until
such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been
satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with
the Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply in all material respects with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use reasonable efforts to
effect such exchange and to permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof, and shall comply in all material respects with all of the
following provisions:
(i) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company
(which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an
affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to
engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the
Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary
course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate
in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer
(1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this
Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in XXXXXX
XXXXXXX AND CO., INC. (available June 5, 1991) and EXXON CAPITAL HOLDINGS
CORPORATION (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's
letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action
letters and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction
and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an
effective registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K
if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange
for Series A Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or an
affiliate thereof.
(ii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to the
Commission (A) stating that
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the Company is registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position
of the Commission enunciated in EXXON CAPITAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(available May 13, 1988), XXXXXX XXXXXXX AND CO., INC. (available June 5,
1991) and (B) including a representation that the Company has not entered
into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the
Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best
of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in the
Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of
business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes received in the
Exchange Offer.
(b) SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and shall use reasonable efforts to effect such registration
to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as
indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)
hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) GENERAL PROVISIONS. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the
sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation,
any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the
extent that the same are required to be available to permit sales of
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the
Company shall:
(i) use reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for
the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable.
Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration
Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale
of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement, (1) in the case of clause (A), correcting any such
misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case of clauses (A) and (B), use
reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and
such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for
their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter.
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(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary
to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set
forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply in all material respects with
Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner;
and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Act with
respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration
Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders
promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing,
(A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become
effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or
for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state
securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of
any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a
material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference
therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
in the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time
the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its best efforts
to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible
time;
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(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder named
in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the underwriter(s)
in connection with such sale, if any, before filing with the Commission,
copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or
any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the reasonable review and comment of such Holders and
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at
least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which the selling Holders of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, shall reasonably
object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof. A selling
Holder or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to have reasonably objected
to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or
supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material
misstatement or omission or fails to comply in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the Act;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and to the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, make the Company's
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant
retained by such selling Holders or any of such underwriter(s), all
pertinent financial and other records, corporate documents and properties
of the Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder,
underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing
thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s) in
connection with such sale, if any, promptly include in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective
amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and
underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably
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request to have included therein, including, without limitation,
information relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer
Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the
purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of
the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the
matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment;
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s)
in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at least one copy of
the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all exhibits;
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents
to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement) and make such representations and warranties and take all such
other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate
the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably
requested by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, and in such connection, the Company shall:
(A) furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use
reasonable efforts to furnish) to each underwriter, if any, upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness
of the Shelf Registration Statement, signed on behalf of the
Company by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company
confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in
paragraphs (a) through (d) of Section 9 of the
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Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as the
underwriter(s) may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement, of counsel for the Company
covering matters similar to those set forth in paragraph (f)
of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters
as the underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and in any
event including a statement to the effect that such counsel
has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company and have
considered the matters required to be stated therein and the
statements contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness
of such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on
the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a
large extent upon facts provided to such counsel by officers
and other representatives of the Company and without
independent check or verification), no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that
the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto became effective and, in the case of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation
of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such
Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the
opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may
state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes
and schedules and other financial data included in any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the
related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date
of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters
-14-
of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to
underwriters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort
letters delivered pursuant to Section 9 of the Purchase
Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the
underwriting agreement, if any, in connection with any sale or resale
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement the indemnification
provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all
parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if
any, and Restricted Broker Dealers, if any, to evidence compliance,
with respect to any underwriter(s), with clause (A) above and with any
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or
similar agreement, if any, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if
at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated
in (A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise
the underwriter(s), if any, promptly and if requested by such Persons,
shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any,
and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to
register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of
process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions
relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not
now so subject;
(xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement,
Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such
Holder in exchange therefor or
-15-
being sold by such Holder; such Series B Notes to be registered in the name
of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the
case may be; in return, the Series A Notes held by such Holder shall be
surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if
any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in
such denominations and such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if
any, may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use reasonable efforts to cause the disposition of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or
the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi)
above;
(xv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated
by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number or numbers for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under
the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted
Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository
Trust Company;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with
the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any
underwriter (including any "qualified independent underwriter") that is
required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
NASD, and use reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to
become effective and approved by such gov-
-16-
ernmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders
selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the disposition of
such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) otherwise use reasonable efforts to comply in all material
respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and
make generally available to its security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated
earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Act
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after
the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined
in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and
the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be
required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms
of the TIA; and execute and use reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all
other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to
enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document
filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON HOLDERS. Each Holder agrees by acquisition
of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to
in Section 6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
applicable Registration Statement and Prospectus contained therein until such
Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by
the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received
copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus (the "Advice"). If so directed by the Company, each
Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other
than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of
receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or Section
-17-
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered
by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof or
shall have received the Advice.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and reasonable expenses
(including filings made by the Initial Purchaser or any Holder with the NASD
(and, if applicable, the reasonable fees and expenses of any "qualified
independent underwriter") and its counsel that may be required by the rules and
regulations of the NASD); (ii) all reasonable fees and expenses of compliance
with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all
reasonable expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Series
B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses),
messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities (subject to the provisions of Section 7 (b)) ; (v) all application
and filing fees, if any, in connection with listing the Notes on a national
securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements
hereof; and (vi) all reasonable fees and disbursements of independent certified
public accountants of the Company (including the reasonable expenses of any
special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by
this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and/or the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse
the Initial Purchaser and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being
tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be
chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being
prepared.
-18-
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each
Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the
Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a
"controlling person") and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person
(any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred
to as an "INDEMNIFIED HOLDER"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and
expenses (including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all
reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or
action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
to any Indemnified Holder) directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based
upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the
Holders expressly for use therein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing
indemnity agreement with respect to any Registration Statement, preliminary
Prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) shall not
inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the Person asserting any such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses purchased
Series B Notes, or any Person controlling such Holder, if a copy of the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of
such Holder to such Person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of the Series B Notes to such Person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended and
supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim,
damage, liability, judgment, action or expense.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any
of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against
the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by
such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing (PROVIDED,
that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations pursuant to this Agreement unless it shall have been determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction, by a final judgment not subject to ap-
-19-
peal or review, that such failure shall have resulted in a material adverse
effect upon the Company). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to
employ its own counsel in any such action and the reasonable fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Company shall be entitled to participate in such action or proceeding
and, to the extent that the Company shall wish to assume the defense thereof
(provided that any such participation or assumption shall be permitted only upon
written notice to the Indemnified Holder which notice is received within 10 days
of the Company's actual knowledge of such action or proceeding), with counsel
satisfactory to such Indemnified Holder (which counsel shall not, except with
the consent of the Indemnified Holder, be counsel to the Company), at the
Company's expense, and after notice from the Company to such Indemnified Holder
of the Company's election so to assume the defense thereof, the Company shall
not be liable to such Indemnified Holder under this Section 8(a) for any legal
expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in such case subsequently
incurred by such Indemnified Holder, in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the
Company shall not be entitled to control the defense of, or investigation by,
such Indemnified Holder if such Indemnified Holder has been advised by its
counsel that there could reasonably be expected to be a conflict of interest
between the Company and such Indemnified Holder under applicable standards of
professional responsibility. The Company shall not, in connection with any one
such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related
actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at
any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the
Holders. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or
proceeding effected with the Company's prior written consent, which consent
shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the
written consent of the Company. The Company shall not, without the prior
written consent of each Indemnified Holder (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment
in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim,
litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may
be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto),
unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an
unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out
of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees,
severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, any
Person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act) the Company, and
-20-
their respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and
agents (collectively, "Indemnified Company Persons"), to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but
only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such
Holder furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement. In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against any
Indemnified Company Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and
duties given the Company, and the Indemnified Company Person shall have the
rights and duties given to each Indemnified Holder by Section 8(a). In no event
shall any Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof
(other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities or if such allocation is not permitted by
applicable law, the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the
Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the
other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or by the Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a),
any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in
connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.
-21-
The Company and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section
8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or
its related Indemnified Holders shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by
such Holder with respect to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by
such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities PLUS (B) the amount of any
damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective
principal amount of Series A Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not
joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which
the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities
in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such
Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner,
the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit
resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis provided in customary underwriting arrangements entered
into in connection therewith and (b) completes and executes all reasonable
questionnaires, powers of attorney, and other documents required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
-22-
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
For any Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers for any Underwritten Offering that will
administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering. Such investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as
the "underwriters."
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) REMEDIES. Each party hereto, in addition to being entitled
to exercise all rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement
or granted by law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, to the
extent applicable to such party, will be entitled to specific performance of its
rights under this Agreement. Each party hereto agrees that monetary damages
would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach
by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defense
in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company will not, on or
after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has
not previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to its securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any agreement in
effect on the date hereof.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING THE NOTES. The Company will not take
any action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes
that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement may
not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of
Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in
the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of
Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose
securities are not being
-23-
tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a
majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or
air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Renco Steel Holdings, Inc.
c/o The Renco Group, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: President
With a copy to:
Cadwalader, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., c/o Managing Attorneys'
office
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
-24-
(f) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding
upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor
or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties
as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
-25-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
RENCO STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxx
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice PResident
